(Newser)
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Gay marriage still isn't legal in Illinois, and Minneapolis Mayor RT Rybak is making a boldfaced attempt to take advantage of that. Rybak is headed to Chicago today to announce a new ad campaign urging gay Windy City residents to cross the border and get hitched. Rybak will hold the event in Lakeview, the city's most prominent gay neighborhood, the Chicago Tribune reports. In other gay rights news:

The Department of Veteran Affairs has announced that it will begin providing benefits to same-sex couples, ignoring a federal law limiting benefits to spouses "of the opposite sex," the New York Times reports. In a letter to Congress, Eric Holder explained that the Obama administration would no longer enforce the law, thanks to the Supreme Court ruling marking such discrimination as unconstitutional.

Top Texas Republicans are battling a proposed San Antonio law that would make it illegal to discriminate against gay people in housing and hiring decisions, the Dallas Morning News reports. As "good primary politics in Texas, this is kind of a no-brainer," one GOP consultant said. Gubernatorial candidate Greg Abbott, for instance, says the ordinance would "trample" religious freedom.

For more on battle over gay rights in Texas, Mississippi, and New Mexico, click here.

Saying "come get married in Minneapolis" is stupid. The smart thing to do is get the tourist board to come up with gay marriage packages that include: - Arrangements at a church that will perform gay weddings (such as ELCA) - Hotel reservations - Group airline reservations with discounts - Reception dinner - Flowers - Photographer If you could go to a web page and just click to pick a hotel you like (based on amenities and cost), click to pick the flowers, click to pick a cake, click to choose the reception venue / menu / decorations / band, click to enter a guest list and have invitations mailed. That would be awesome. Spend 2 hours on a web page. Enter a credit card number, the entire wedding is planned and done. I think it would also be a big appeal to heterosexual couples as well.